From the moment I unboxed Blue Microphones Blackout Yeti USB Microphone I could see why this mic has become so popular with YouTubers and podcasters. This affordably priced microphone (as far as microphones go) looks stunning with its classic retro look. It’s all black metal design oozes quality and I haven’t even begun to tell you about its professional sound and its versatility. I am by no means a mic aficionado but after my time spent with the Blackout Yeti over the past couple of weeks there is no question the Yeti is bad ass and ideal for those looking for an easy to use high quality mic.
Purchase the Yeti at EB Games.
Out the box the Blackout Yeti comes with a USB cable, instruction manual and the mic itself – that is it. There really isn’t much inside the box at all, but there doesn’t have to be as the set-up is super easy. After I unpacked this gorgeous looking microphone, which looked great on my desk, I was able to rotate it to my desired angle by using the set-screws on the left and right of base. From there I grabbed the USB cable which connects to the base of the Yeti and plugged it into my PC. After some initial confusion where I was forced to look at the instruction guide, I discovered I needed to set up the Blackout Yeti as the default device in the sound recording menu in my PC’s control manual. The instruction manual has set up options for Mac users and Window users which will unquestionably be helpful for many. It certainly was for me.
Before I get into the sound and features of the microphone itself, I will briefly discuss the stand as there are some good and bad things about it. As for the positives, the stand has a solid metal finish to it and is used to adjust the angle of the microphone. By taking off the screws I was able to detach the mic altogether which is great for our COGconnected videocast as we like to use external boom arms. So having the ability to take the mic off the stand is a plus.
The base of the stand has some soft padding which will prevent the mic from scratching up your desk or table. It also prevents the mic from sliding around. On the downside, the stand picks up every little noise and even the faintest taps on my desk were picked up quite easily. I highly recommend you get yourself a shock mount to keep the clatter to a minimum. Yes, it is an extra cost but the investment is worth it if you planning on using it over the long haul.
______________________________
“Needless to say, Blue Microphone’s Blackout Yeti USB Microphone is extremely versatile as it can be used for musicians, interviews, conference calls, podcasts, voiceovers, etc, etc.”
The microphone itself has the USB port, which also happens to power the mic, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The front of the mic has the master volume control for anything plugged into the headphone jack and a mute button. The mute button is ideally placed and convenient to use as it flashes red when muted and solid red when unmuted.
On the back of the mic, there is a gain control knob which is used to increase and decrease the mic sensitivity levels. Underneath the gain knob, there is a selection knob that lets you select from the four different presets. “Stereo Mode” captured the location of both the left and the right side of the microphone. It’s ideal for capturing realistic stereo sound. “Cardioid Mode” is a commonly used mode and geared towards podcasters as the sound (your voice) directly in front of the mic is picked up. “Omnidirectional Mode” grabs sound equally from all directions, which is perfect for musicians; and “Bidirectional Mode” picks up sound from the front and back which is suitable for those one on one interviews.
Needless to say, Blue Microphones Blackout Yeti USB Microphone is extremely versatile as it can be used for musicians, interviews, conference calls, podcasts, voiceovers, etc, etc. I also effectively used the mic with my PlayStation 4 by simply plugging the mic into the PS4’s USB port. The system automatically detects the mic and by plugging in your headset into the mic, you have yourself fully functional audio and chat abilities. Sure it is a little more cumbersome than a simple headset with a mic but the audio sound is reportedly amazing, at least some online Call of Duty buddies.
Here is a helpful video on how to connect the Yeti directly to PlayStation 4 and how to easily start Twitch streaming with professional-quality audio:
Overall the sound is truly superb. The Yeti utilizes a high quality analog to digital converter that sends incredible high fidelity audio directly to your PC. The results are simply fantastic and blew me away. The only drawback is how sensitive it is to picking up every little sound in your room, so keep that in mind when recording. For around $109.99 Blue Microphones Blackout Yeti USB Microphone is a rock solid purchase for anyone looking to get going on a podcast or video streaming.
***A Blackout Yeti was provided by Blue Microphones for the purpose of this review***
The Good
- Incredibly versatile
- Looks fantastic
- Sound is prestine
The Bad
- Stand picks up every noise
- USB only limits use
